NAD has expanded its Home Theater products offerings with the versatile T585 Universal DVD Player and the affordable T515 DVD/CD, each featuring an HDMI output with HDCP encryption for use with high-definition displays.
With top audio performance in mind, NAD says both players benefit from audiophile-quality 24-bit, 192-kHz audio D/A converters to ensure that even compressed MP3 and WMA files receive superior output. Bass is full and tight, mids and highs are detailed and smooth with a stereo image that has depth and scale, and that’s just taking compressed files into consideration, NAD says.

Both models include component, S-Video and composite video connections as well as coax, optical, and stereo analog audio connections, assuring complete compatibility with any home theater set-up. The T585 also provides a 5.1 analog connection as well as the digital audio format via the HDMI output.

As a universal player, the T 585 supports both DVD-Audio and SACD media, providing on board Dolby Digital and DTS decoding for multi-channel discs. It also comes with the SRS True Surround circuit, a surround virtualizer that creates 5-channel audio with only 2 speakers, according to the company. The T515 supports standard CD and DVD media and is also compatible with DivX and (2-channel only) DVD-Audio discs.

The T515 provides a standard 480i and 576i picture, which can be “upsampled” to 1080i, while the T585 employs a Faroudja DCDi chip that will ‘upconvert’ standard DVD (480 lines) to the HD formats of 720p or 1080i, which is available on the HDMI and Analog Component Video output.

The T 585 also provides comprehensive on-board DVD-Audio and SACD Digital Bass Management, allowing consumers to pre-set speaker configurations such as speaker size, distance and level. The T585 uses MLP lossless compression to produce PCM formatted high-resolution signals from DVD-Audio media.

SACD (super audio compact disc) uses the DSD (direct stream digital) technique to obtain a very realistic sonic presentation. The T585 has two separate signal paths for the DVD-Audio and SACD signals, which maintains the highest possible levels of sound quality for each format. The integration of high-speed FET output devices keep all the detail present in the high-resolution SACD and DVD-Audio formats perfectly intact, says NAD.

The Dual Discrete Video Circuit (DDVC) in the T585 ensures the highest possible picture quality via the Component Video output and a high-speed dual 12-bit, 216-MHz video D/A converter delivers accurate playback of delicate, low-level video signals, producing a vivid picture that is faithful in every detail. Higher quality picture reproduction is also possible thanks to a filter with flexible ‘shutout characteristics’ that is used for the analog filter in the latter stage.

Additionally, the NAD T585 uses two separate video D/A converters to process progressive and interlaced signals, eliminating mutual interference between the two signals. This allows both a standard-definition and a high-definition picture to be output simultaneously, which makes it ideal for sending video to a second room.

Easy integration with advanced control systems, such as AMX and Crestron, is made possible using the rear panel IR input, 12V trigger input, and RS-232 port, the company adds.

The T585 Universal DVD Player and T515 DVD/CD Player will sell for suggested retail prices of $1,199 and $399, respectively. Visit www.nadelectronics.com for more.

Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!